Cigar lighter



Jall. A, A JOHNSON 2,459,650

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Jan. 17, 1936 /Z 3 /Nl .lmAM

Patented Jan. 18, 1949 VYUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to Automatic Devices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 17, 1936, Serial No. 59,488

7 Claims. 1

f This invention relates to cigar lighters, and more particularly, to the type of cigar lighter in which the igniting unit is supported in or on a holding device to be removed and used after it has been brought to incandescence.

' An object of this invention is to provide an improved cigar lighter of the type referred to in which the circuit through the heating element is automatically broken when the heating element reaches a predetermined temperature, that suflicient to ignite a cigar or cigarette brought into Contact therewith.

According to the present invention, this is accomplished by providing an igniting unit which is placed in a holding device in predetermined and definite position in which the igniting unit has two-pole engagement with the holding device and in which the circuit through the heating element is closed by operation of a button or fingerpiece carried by the igniting unit.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby light from the incandescent heating element may be viewed from the exterior of the device so that if desired the igniting unit may be electrically disconnected from the holding device and removed for use sooner than it would be electrically disconnected automatically.

' Another feature of this invention is the provision of contact members which are brought into engagement to close the circuit through the heating element in such manner that the contacting surfaces thereof may be easily and conveniently cleaned without disassembling the igniting unit.

yOther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the present cigar lighter showing the inoperative or open circuit position of the igniting unit and holder.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View showing the igniting unit in operative or closed circuit position/Within the holder.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the igniting unit with part cut away to disclose the interior.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the igniting unit, showing the heating element.

The cigar lighter. of the present invention -comprises a holder broadly designated by the numeral I0, andan igniting` unit designated .by the numerat II, the latter being adapted to slidably fit within the holder I0, and to be completely removable therefrom.

The holder Ill has a cylindrical shell I2 having a threaded forward portion I3, fitting into an aperture in the dashboard I4 of a car, and carrying nuts I5 and I6 which clamp said dashboard between them for mounting said shell thereby. The nut I6 has an internal shoulder I7 thereon for abutment with the end of the shell I2 and has a bevelled front face for ornamentation, said nut serving as an escutoheon piece for the holder I0.

The rear end portion of the shell I2 is turned inwardly to provide an internal flange I8 which supports a disk I9 having a boss 20, said disk being held by an annular flange 2|, thereon, which is spun over the flange I8.

The disk I9 insulatedly supports a metal contact clip 22 comprising a central disk 23 having spring fingers 24, said clip being held by a bolt 25 and a nut 26.

Insulation is effected by a washer 21 interposed between the clip 22 and the disk I9, a washer 28 interposed between the boss 20 and the nut 26, and a bushing 29 carried by the bolt 25 intermediate said washers.

Electrical connection is made to the holder I0 by a Wire 30 having a lug 3| clamped between the nuts 26, 26a, current being thereby conducted through the bolt 25 to the clip 22, and also by the sleeve I2 and the metal dashboard I4 which latter is part of the ground circuit of the car.

The shell I2 has fingers I2a lanced therein and biased inwardly, said ngers extending longitudinally thereof, and serving to contact with a sleeve hereinafter described of the igniting unit II.

As described above, the holder I0 provides a sleeve or shell I2 for slidably receiving the removable igniting unit of a cigar lighter, said sleeve furnishing one electrical connection for said unit, and having a spring clip disposed therein forming a second electrical connection.

The igniting unit II of the cigar ligher is adapted to slidably t within the shell I2 of the holder, and make connection thereto, and said unit has disposed at its extremity a heating element adapted to contact and be held by the clip 22.

The removable igniting unit II of the present invention is provided with means, including thermostatic contact means, for making the operation of the cigar lighter entirely automatic, including visible and audible signaling to the operator thereof.

By the present invention there are provided also means of the removable igniting unit I I, outward parts of which are obviously easily accessible for manipulation, for conditioning and 3 cleaning the thermostatic contact means thereof, should these become inoperative due to arcng, dirt, dust, etc.

Also by providing the easily replaceable unit l l with the means for making the operation of the lighter automatic, it is not necessary, should said means become: permanently inoperative, to discard the entire lighter, but merely to discard the igniting unit therefor, and substitute a new unit in its place.

Accordingly there is provided a cylindrical body 32 made preferably of moldable insulating material, having a shoulder 33 at. itsfoi-ward` end to serve as a knob, a bead 34 rearwardly disposed of said shoulder and spaced therefrom, to serve as an abutment, and a neck portion 35 intermediate said bead and the rear end of said body, and terminating in a shoulder 36.

A cylindrical longitudinal bore 32a is provided in the body 32, for the purpose of permitting light to traverse said body, as hereinafter described.

Thebody v32 tsslidably within a metallic sleeve 31.A which has its forward edge turnedr outwardl to form a i'ange 33 adapted to abut the bead 34 of said body,l and thel sleeve 31 in turn slidably ts Within the shell I2. of the holder I6, the flange 38' serving to' abut the escutcheon nut i6 of the holder.

Thel sleeve 3\1- has inwardly extending lingers 31d lanced therein intermediate its ends, said ngers extending toward the neck portion 35 of the body 34,` and' serving to--abut the shoulder 36', thereby preventing said' sleeve from being withdrawn from they body 32.

A helical compression spring` 40 is disposed on the neck 35, one endr of said spring resting against the ngers 39 of the sleeve 31 and thereby yieldingl-y urging the latter rearwardly of the body 32.

The' sleeve 31 has the edge of its. rearward end turnedinwardto formaninternal ange, and supported thereon is van insulating disk 4l carrying a heating element 42 having a cup. contact member adapted tov engage andbeheld by the clip 22,

According tothe presentv4 invention thermal-lyi responsive switch means are employed in the ign-iting unitV I i, said means being also.l cooperative with the telescoping. body 32 and sleeve 31 of said unit tov providev for automatic operation thereof.

rhere is, therefore, provided` a thermostatic Contact clip 43 made preferably of bimetal-lic structure and supported in the sleeve 3.1 on the insulating disk 4', said clip being inheat-con ducting. relation to the element 42 by virtue of a stud 44 and nut 45 which fasten said clip.

v The stud '4`4` and nut 45 are4 of particu-lar importance aside from their function of fastening the clip 43to the disk 4|, said stud and nut serving to Vconduct heat from the incandescent element 42 to the thermostatic contact clip 43, and therefore said stud is` preferably of' solid and substantial cross section, and of relatively short length, and is preferably made of a metal which conducts heat readily. M It should be' noted that the face of the nut 45 nts closely against the clip' 43, providing a substantial contact surface therebetween, and increasing the heat conductivity to said clip from thestud 44, andconsequently the element 42;

Attached to the end of the body 32 is a contact adaptedtoy engage and be held bythe clip 43, and for this purposeth'ere is mounted in the bore 32a a cup 4'6 having external threads'dl'which engage threads in said-bore, and having acontact stud' 48 attached thereto, in alignment with the thermostatic clip 43, and for engagement therewith.

The stud 48 has a head 49 having a tapered surface disposed toward the clip 43, and forming a shoulder 50 adapted to be retained by the clip 43.

The cup 46 has spring fingers 5I which bear againsty the sleeve. 31 for the purpose of forming electrical connection thereto.

When the igniting unit is placed in the holding device the clip 22 will spread to receive and hold the heating element, it being understood that the compression spring 40 is suficiently strong so that it compresses only slightly under the pressure required to spread the clip.

It 'is evident that considering Fig. 2 when the body 32 is pressed inwardly further, the stud 48 will spread the clip 43, and said clip will snap againt. the shoulder 50, retaining the stud therein, as shown in Fig. 2.

The: electrical circuit will be completed, rand current will ow through the. wire 30, theboltA 25, contact. cl-ip` 22, heating element 42, stud 44bimetal-lic clip 43, stud 48, cup. 46 sleeve 3.1., shell- I2, and through the dashboard I4'.

The element 42 will be heated, and heatJ will be conducted by the stud 44 to the? clip 43. When a sufficient degree ofv heat. is experienced by the' clipv 43 it will. spread, and release the Vstud 48 thereby breaking thecircut, since said studand the body 32 will4 spring forwardly under the tension of the spring 4'0.

The degree. of heat required to spread the. clip 43 is attained after theheating element 4.2v issuiciently incandescent to be ready for use.` The. igniting unit is then withdrawn .for ignitingv of cigarettes., cigars,4 etc.

It should be noted that the construction of the clip 43' and the stud 48 and cup 4'6 isv such v.that energization ofA the heating element 42 maybe continued beyondV the shut off' point. by holding the body 3'2 inwardly, evenv though the clip has spread apart under the. action of heat for the release ofthe stud 48; contact Iis made lin this case from theclip 43 directly to the cup 46?. It therefore, possible to energize the heating element after the lighter has automatically snapped to off position, should this become desirable.

Should the electrical connection Vbetween the clip 43 and the stud' '48 become impaired dueto arcing and dirt, it is merely necessary, by .the present invention, to grasp the ignit'i'ng unit. il' in the hand and press. the body 32 and shell 31 together, causing the clip 43 to. grip the stud 4'8, and then turn the shell 31 relative tothe body 32', whereby there will be ei'ected a cleaning of said clip and stud, making. .theseagain suitable` for use.

When the clip 43 releases the stud 48,. the spring 4.0 will cause the shoulder v36 of the body 32 to strike sharply against the fingers 39, andra distinct click will be heard to give audible notice oi the readinessofv the lighter` Apertures are provided iny tlnevback. of ytheheatiing element cup, and. in. thev disk 4|., and inthe cup 46, and said apertures are 4aligned and disposed so-` as' to permit' light from the `inc'amzlescent element 42 to traverse the borew3'2a of thebody 32 and strike a translucentI lens mem-ber 521disposedr at `the end thereof, thereby appri-singthe operatory visu-ally that the lighter is in readiness for use;

Vari-ations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and'portions ofv theimprovements'may be used without others.

" Iclaim:

1. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device having a metallic shell and an electrical contact insulatedly supported in the base end thereof; an igniting unit removably supported in said holding device, and having a metallic sleeve slidably engaging the shell of the holder and a nonmetallic body and a knob thereon for grasping the igniting unit, said body being slidable in the sleeve and movable longitudinally within limits relative thereto; means for yieldingly urging the body outwardly of the sleeve against one of the limits of said movements; a heating lelement insulatedly carried by the sleeve and having a contact surrounding the same and adapted to engage the base contact of the holding device during normal storage of said igniting unit on the holding device, said basecontact extending beyond and around a portion of the heating element contactto hOld the unit against inadvertent displacement; a metal plate carried by the body of the igniting unit having thereon a plurality of resilient ngers having a surface engaging the sleeve kto have a wiping action therewith to provide an electrical connection between the sleeve and plate when the body is slid relative to the sleeve; a contact carried at the center of the plate; and a gripping contact connected to said heating element and positioned to engage and grip the contact on the plate Awhen the latter is pressed inwardly so that the circuit through the heating element is completed.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device having a metallic shell and an electrical contact insulatedly supported in one end thereof; an igniting unit removably supported in said holding device, and having a metallic sleeve slidably engaging the shell of the holder and a non-metallic tubular member and a knob thereon for grasping the igniting unit, said tubular member being carried in the sleeve and movable longitudinally within limits relative thereto; means for yieldingly urging the tubular member outwardly of the sleeve against one of the limits of said movements; a heating element insulatedly carried by the sleeve and having a contact adapted to engage the contact of the holding device during the support of said igniting unit; a metal plate having a cup threaded into the bore of the inner end of the tubular member; resilient iingers connected to the plate and having a surface engaging the sleeve to have a wiping action therewith to provide an electrical connection between the sleeve and plate when the push button is moved relative to the sleeve; a shouldered stud contact disposed in the cup and electrically connected to the plate; and a latch contact connected to said heating element and adapted to engage the stud contact when the tube is pressed inwardly so that the circuit through the heating element is completed.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device having a metallic shell and an electrical contact insulatedly supported in one end thereof; an igniting unit removably supported in said holding device, and having a metallic sleeve slidably engaging the shell of the holder and an elongate non-metallic tube and a push button and knob thereon for grasping the igniting unit, said tube being slidably carried in the sleeve and movable longitudinally within limits relative thereto and having a portion of reduced diameter between the ends thereof; spring means located in the portion of reduced diameter for yieldingly urging the tube outwardly of the sleeve; a finger on the sleeve extending into the space formed by the portion. of reduced diameter for limiting the out- Ward movement of the tube; a heating element insulatedly carried by the sleeve and having a contact adapted to engage the contact of the holding device in normal storage position of the igniting unit thereon; a metal plate; spring 1ingers connected to the plate on the tube and having a surfaceengaging the sleeve to have a wiping action therewith to provide an electrical connection between the sleeve and plate when the push button is moved relative to the sleeve; a stud contact carried within the cup; and a heatresponsive latch'contact connected to said heating element adapted to engage the stud contact when the tube is pressed inwardly so that the circuit through the heating element is completed.

4. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device having a metallic shell and an electrical contact insulatedlysupported in the base end thereof; an igniting unit removably supported in said holding device, and having a metallic sleeve slidably engaging the shell 0f the holder and a non-metallic tube and a push button and a knob thereon for grasping the igniting unit, said tube being slidably carried in the sleeve and movable longitudinally within limits relative thereto; means for yieldingly urging the push button outwardly of the sleeve against one of the limits of said movements, said tube having an integral projecting rib for engaging the end of the sleeve for limiting the inward movement; a heating element insulatedly carried by the sleeve and having a contact surrounding the same and adapted to be gripped by the base contact of the holding device in normal storage position of said igniting unit on the holding device, said base contact extending beyond and around a portion of the heating element contact to hold the unit against inadvertent displacement; a metal plate carried by the tube of the igniting unit; a plurality of resilient fingers connected to the plate and each having a surface engaging the sleeve to have a wiping action therewith to provide an electrical connection between the sleeve and plate when the tube is moved relative to the sleeve; a contact carried at the center of the plate; and a heatresponsive latch contact connected to said heating element and positioned to engage and grip the contact on the plate when the tube is pressed inwardly so that the rib thereon engages the end of the sleeve whereby the circuit through the heating element is completed.

5. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device having a metallic shell and an electrical contact insulatedly supported in one end thereof; an igniting unit removably supported in said holding device, and having a metallic sleeve slidably engaging the shell of the holder and an elongate non-metallic tube and a push button and knob thereon for grasping the igniting unit, said tube being slidably carried in the sleeve and movable longitudinally within limits relative thereto and having a portion of reduced diameter between the ends thereof; spring means located in the portion of reduced diameter for yieldingly urging the tube outwardly of the sleeve against one of the limits of said movements; a heating element insulatedly carried by the sleeve and having a contact adapted to engage the contact of the holding device in normal storage position of the igniting unit thereon; a metal plate carried by the end of the tube; spring fingers connected to the plate and having a surface engaging the sleeve to have a wiping action therewith to provide an electrical connection between the sleeve 

